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New Jersey Governor Wants to Transform Treatment of Drug Offenders

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I believe this means more 12 Step NA and AA programs. If this initiative goes through I believe there will be a lot more people mandated to AA and NA. 62% of the prison population has a moderate to severe drug problem, they could get release to the rooms. Any comments from pro or anti 12 Step bloggers on what this will do to New Jersey (especially Nutley)?
"New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is taking the lead on a national issue with a proposal that could change the way that state judicial systems deal with drug abuse. In his recent State of the State Address, the governor suggested that every nonviolent offender with a serious substance abuse problem undergo mandatory treatment. The governor then took his proposal one step further and suggested that treatment should take the place of a prison sentence. Speaking to those who would be affected by the proposal, Governor Christie said, "We want to help you, not throw you away. We will require you to get treatment. Your life has value."
The governor stated that he understands that addiction is a disease that touches nearly every family in New Jersey in one way or another. He also stated that when drug and alcohol abusers enter the prison system, there are released back into a life of substance abuse, crime and re-arrest. For many, incarceration becomes a revolving door that never addresses the underlying cause for arrest. A 2009 study of New Jersey prisons estimated that 62% of New Jersey's prison population has a moderate to severe drug problem."
Read more: http://www.addictionreporter.com/drugcrime/new-jersey-chris-christie-pro...

My philosophy is to reduce penalties for drug crimes and increase penalties for burglaries, car thefts, and most violent offenses. You get busted with some crack we go easy on you; you burglarize a house you get 10 years. Now it is often the other way around. But fuck this treatment shit either way. At least in prison you know when you're getting raped in the ass.

Chris Christie is the devil incarnate.
He doesn't give a rat's patootie about anything but lining his pockets and those of his wealthy friends. It sounds nice. Compassion, caring, empathy...His motives are never pure. Governor Christie's got no love for the working man, the poor, the police, educators, firefighters, the mentally ill. I am sure he has no love for addicts either. There's money going into some pockets somewhere.

"If I forget who I am, I am myself. If I remember who I am, I am you."

Wait a minute. Is it possible we all have the same Governor? The one here's a real shit head. He doesn't even care about re-election because he's raking in sooo much money in office right now. Even his own party was saying that he's a criminal and to not vote for him, yet he somehow got elected anyway. I swear those voting booths are rigged. He's gonna leave this state high and dry. Everybody bend over now!
Um, cats usually don't like to be swung. At least not most of them. ; D

My disdain for Governor Christie aside, I'd much rather see people with non-violent drug charges end up going through the DRC than end up in prison. It's the "treatment" angle that pisses me off. Drug court and AA/NA does not equal treatment.

"If I forget who I am, I am myself. If I remember who I am, I am you."

when the failure of traditional treatment could be highlighted and real effective change could occur, with the added benefit of lower costs, fewer full jails, and upstanding members of society getting less stuff stolen.
I wish you all had a governor like we do in Montana. I used to drink alot with Brian Schweitzer and I really wish he was the President. He would be a great one.